Where Music Lives

Arguably the most highly anticipated techno album of 2011, Sword, Xhin’s debut album on Stroboscopic Artefacts is finally out (on 11/11/11)! As I’ve mentioned before, a proper techno album requires an extremely delicate balance for multiple contexts of listening: the club, at home, and everything in between. Sword demonstrates Xhin’s profound skills as a sound designer and his breadth of electronic influences and visions. Xhin guides us on a journey through the void. It is aggressive and at times violent, but a constant reminder of “the dance floor as a place of common refuge.” Sword plants a strong footing for not only Xhin as a breakout talent of 2011, but for Stroboscopic Artefacts as well. Well done.